Older mothers have happier children, according to study

By 9Honey| 2 years ago

A new study has discovered that older mothers are more patient and therefore have children with less behavioural, social and emotional difficulties.

According to Aarhus University, Denmark, older mums are less likely to punish and scold their children while raising them. And these emotional benefits stay with the children well into their teen years.

The average maternal age has increased steadily for many years - and there are many reasons for this. We all live longer, women have more educational and career opportunities and contraception has improved. Currently, the average pregnancy age is 30.9 years.

While most experts agree with the general recommendation that women shouldn’t leave having children too late - it seems there are psychological positives for children in delaying motherhood.

"We know that people become more mentally flexible with age, are more tolerant of other people and thrive better emotionally themselves. That's why psychological maturity may explain why older mothers do not scold and physically discipline their children as much," says Professor Dion Sommer, one of the researchers of the study.

"This style of parenting can thereby contribute to a positive psychosocial environment which affects the children's upbringing," he concludes.

"However, when estimating the consequences of the rising maternal age it's important to consider both the physical and psychosocial pros and cons," says Professor Sommer. Experts have long recommended that women don't delay motherhood, as declining fertility along with health risks during pregnancy and birth are linked to an older maternal age.

Previous research in this area has already concluded that a higher maternal age means increased psychosocial well-being during the pregnancy and in the early days after the child is born.

But the brand new research builds on this – finding that the advantages for the older mothers and their children extend all the way into the children's school age, but decline before age 15.

This study tracked children of school age and found that children with older mothers had fewer behavioural, social and emotional problems at age 7 and 11, but not at age 15.